UN chief sends new year’s message to Chinese [China Daily]

Happy New Year to all Chinese people around the world! The Chinese officially begin to welcome the new start to the Lunar Year with the the ‘rabbit’ in ascendance. Am watching the popular annual CCTV Spring Festival festivities on TV and found it re-assuring that its opening theme was one focused on ‘going home’ to see the parents; quintessential Chineseness.

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UNITED NATIONS – UN Secretary-General Ban Ki- moon on Tuesday sent a message to the Chinese people to wish them happy new year as the traditional Chinese Spring Festival is around the corner.

The message, written by the UN secretary-general in English, reads: “I extend my warmest wishes to the people of China on the occasion of the Year of the Rabbit. I wish them increased prosperity and well-being in the year to come as we continue to work together for global peace and sustainable development.”

The message was given to Xinhua on Tuesday while the secretary- general was in Ethiopia.

The Spring Festival, or China’s Lunar New Year which falls on Thursday this year, is China’s most important annual event for family reunions.